Telegram-herald., 1887-10-24
THANKS Mr.. MAYOR
ARspoRTeR's RIDE ABOUT The CITY
The New Reformed Church, the City Hos
pital. the Cable Road compsny's Build
lag ana ssssrsi Points ON the
West side Visited.

Tuesday morning last br0ke calm aud
clear and the beautiful warm sunshine
came like bslm 70 some woundet spirit.
All nature seemed alive to the invigorsting
air. and those who were in position 10 do
80 aysiled themselves Of the opportunity 10
enjoy drive in and shout the city. Mayor
Dlkenan. always a courteous gentleman.
meeting reporter for the TELEeRAN-HER-
AID and knowing his penchant for driving.
invited him TO take spin with him behind
bis PAGER Big Brown Jug The reporter did
not refuse-who ever heard Of one refusing
anything-but hastened TO accept the kind
invitation. Charley. that's the horses
proper name. although his master is In the
habit of calling him Baby" was hitched TO
q light buggy and was driven 70 the point
on Largraye-st where the new Fourth Hol-
land Reformed church is being erected. The
foundation Is about completed and il was
noticed that only twenty-ipch wall
was being built 90 support . 500-foot
tower. This Is certainly a very light sup
port, and as il might endsnger the lives of
those attending the church, ii might be a
good thing 10 know who is responsible for
this careiessness. Leaving the church, the
pair proceeded in the direction of the new
hospital, which is built on Easiest At the
corner Of Fifth and Madison-aves the new
school building is nearing completion, aud
will be fine structure and an ornament To
the Valley City. From this point Flitt-aye.
is in worse condition than a country
highway, and will never be TT for travel
until properly graded aud paved. On East
ST, a pleasant night was witl.s. I'D in the
shape OF several men and teams a. work on
the grading of that thoroughfarc. For q
long time the city and Grand Rapids town
ship bave been contemplating this improve
ment. and they are to be congratulated on
having finally come % a satisfactory agree
meDt and decided 10 grade the street.
The grounds for the new hospital COM
prise five acres of land, which ex-
tends in narrow strip from East
ST. clear back to College-ave. The building
will stand back 100 feet from Easiest, and
In the intervening space is located pleas
ant little grove Of naples, which will un-
doubtedly be appreciated by the inmates of
the hospital in the hot Summer days. To
the north OF the grounds lies the Valley
City cemetery, but il is the intention of the
parties interested in the project 10 have
some nice shrub5ery grown along the divid-
ing line, III order to shut out any meian-
choly scenes which would tend TO depress
the inmates. The erection Of The building
is being pushed rapidly and considersbIe
work has been done on the walls already
Retracing their steps the duo then drove
to the terminus of the new Cable street rail-
way on top OF the hill on Lyon-st. Here a
large gang of men were at work both on the
construction of the road and the erection of
a large new building. l00xl20 feet in size, in
which will be located the boilers and en-
gines to furnish power to run the cars up
and down the hill.
Crossing to Bridge-st., and strikinga piece
of good road Mayor Dikeman closed his
grip on the lines and frightened
his hold on the cigar between his teeth.
Then it was that the reporter grasped the
sides of the seat and experienced asen sation
similar to dashing down toboggsn slide
as the big brown PAGER fairly flew over the
ground for about a quarter OF n mile. AS
soon as the reporter had regained bis breath
and steadied his excited nerves he asked if
the buggy was a strong one. On being as
sured that everything was safe, be rather
enjoyed being whirled along at such a rapid
rate that there was scarce time to obtain
glimpse of what was being passed. A
milder gait carried them across Grand
River and West Bridge Street bill was
gained. From the summit Of this can be
seen one of the prettiest views of the city
which can be obtained. especially that com
prising the northern part. The fine build
iBgs and factories. beautiful golden foliage,
and the smoke curling lszily up to beauti-
ful sky, tinted At intervals with a few fieecy,
may clouds. all combined TO present
magnificent panorama TO the eyes Of the
spectators. A short drive across an unfre-
ouented road. and a little scramble
and the reporter found him0lf on the
heights of the Ball Forty. The view OF the
city from this point is equally hus and the
beautiful shade trees in the southern part,
loomed up beautifully, thus shutting out
the view of the most pleasant part of the
Valley City. The weather was so pleasant
and invigorsting that 1t made one feel like
basking for an hour or two n the beautiful
sunshine and Il was hard work leaving the
heights, bat other duties prevailed aud the
reporter was driven back TO the city and to
work. Through the long cold Winter DAYS
this drive will be remembered a. an oasis
in the desert Of his work-a-dsy life.
Jnlliest ard At usror n Grand Rarids-tha